An Obituary Brings Life to Long-Gone Charles D. Salyers

Over the years, the descendants of Sarah Eva Howe Salyers have shared many facts, photos, and stories about their ancestors. Most of the info pertained to Sarah's maternal side – the Howes of Carrollton, Kentucky; the Costs of Cincinnati, Ohio; the Lamsons of Craig, Indiana; and others. I didn't know as much about Sarah's husband's Salyers ancestors – except, of course, its direct descent from Mayflower passengers John Howland, Elizabeth Tilley, John Tilley and Joan Hurst Tilley.

Imagine my excitement when I found in one of Sarah's scrapbooks a newspaper story about the death

Charles D. and Katherine King Salyers, c1880

of Charles David Salyers, Sarah's husband's father. The article, published shortly after his death (May 1, 1926) in Carrollton, likely in one of the local papers, reinforced some things I already knew. It also filled in the man's personality, making Charles D. much more than an entry in my database. But it also presented details I didn't know. In fact, his living descendants (my husband and his cousins) didn't know them, either.

Do you look for obituaries or news articles about the death of your ancestors? If not, you might give it a try. To convince you, I'm sharing the entire transcription of the article about Charles D. Salyers to illustrate what an extensive obituary can reveal. Many of the names, dates, and places I had already documented. There are opinions describing Charles that are delightful to read but which I doubt I can verify. Then there are the verifiable facts that are new to me. I have highlighted those in red.

Do I believe the information in the article is accurate? Because I have proof of the dates and places mentioned, I have no reason to distrust the other information. Of course, in time I will look for proofs, but right now I accept it as family record – and I assume that a family member either wrote the article or provided the information to the person who did.

I made no edits in the transcription, but I have added a few comments within bracketed Italics. Text lost from the tattered and torn clipping are indicated as “missing" in the final paragraph.


                                           C. D. Salyers Called Home.
It is well for us to pause in the whirl and rush of our present day life to turn aside and stand with bowed heads as a tribute of respect and esteem to one of our old and well known citizens – a grandson of the pioneers. The Salyers family came here from Fairfax county, Virginia, before the close of the 18th century, as they traveled the Wilderness trail about 1785, finally settling in Indiana, where David Hillis Salyers was born in 1812.

Benjamin Lamson and Abbie Freeman came from Massachusetts, across the mountains of Pennsylvania and down the Ohio, to Steubenville, where they were married November 19, 1818, coming at once to Craigs Landing, Ind., near where they built their first home, and lived in this neighborhood about 67 years.

They reared a large family of eight girls and six boys. The third child was Amelia Haskell Lamson, who was born December 31, 1822. She was married to D. H. Salyers September 12, 1847. Later they moved to Mississippi, where Charles David Salyers was born December 6, 1849.

Their other children were Abbie [I knew her as Rose A. and now suspect it was Abigail Rose], who died several years ago in Cumberland Gap, Tenn.; Will who died more recently at Middlesboro, Ky.; Thomas and R. F. Salyers, of San Diego, Cal., and Mrs. Ruth Cockrell, of Cumberland Gap, Tenn.

Except for his early childhood Carrollton had always been the home of Charles D. Salyers, and here about 1869 he opened his first tin shop and had been continuously in business for 57 years.

He was married to Katherine King in 1874, and soon after this their store was destroyed by fire.

In December of the same year his father died in Arkansas and as far as possible he faithfully tried to take his place and help his mother in the dark days that followed. His younger brothers learned in his shop. He had a great love for children and he and his young wife were almost heart-broken when their first children, James and Charles, died in infancy. Later their home was brightened by the coming of two little boys, Will and Robert.

In May 1883, a little girl was born, but only came to stay for a few days and took the wife and mother back to Heaven with her. [Her name was Katherine, after her mother.]

In this sorrowful crisis in his life his sister Ruth became his home-maker and gave a mother’s love and care to the little boys. About this time he became a member of the Christian church, and more faithfully than most any of us he met the requirements of God, which are to “Deal justly, love mercy, and humbly walk with Him.” He never turned a deaf ear to the cry of the needy or the orphan’s wail, and he kept himself unspotted from the world.

In 1887 he was united in marriage to Flora Geier, and for 34 years they lived happily together until her death July 2, 1921. Another hard blow he endured was the death in August, 1898, of his son, Robert King Salyers, just as he was entering manhood.

It would seem that he had more than the usual losses, trials and sadness that are the common heritage of us all, but he never gave up nor complained. He took every blow with a courage that [missing] with a courage that [missing] never became bitter. [missing] and eyes front he [missing] march and endured [missing] a good soldier.


                                                  ***************************
The article appears to have been longer, but this transcription includes all text visible in the clipping. I'll be watching for a complete version as I explore more scrapbooks.

Thank you, Sarah, for preserving this article. It reminds all of us to go beyond the names, dates, and places to know the people in our past.